The Core of the Question: Assessing Momoshiki’s Divine Knowledge
When diving into the complex lore of the Boruto series, few questions are as compelling as those surrounding the god-like Otsutsuki clan and their phenomenal abilities. A central query that often emerges among fans is, does Momoshiki know all shinjutsu? The short and most accurate answer, based on all available evidence, is almost certainly no. While Momoshiki Otsutsuki possesses a truly vast and profound understanding of shinjutsu principles, likely more than almost any being alive, it is highly improbable that he knows all of them. His knowledge appears to be more of a massive, inherited encyclopedia than an all-encompassing, omniscient command of every divine technique, especially those originating from the transcendent Otsutsuki God, Shibai.
This article will provide an in-depth analysis of this very topic. We will dissect the nature of shinjutsu, examine Momoshiki’s demonstrated abilities, and explore the crucial difference between having a library of inherited data and possessing true omniscience. By closely examining Momoshiki’s actions, his commentary from within Boruto, and the established hierarchy of the Otsutsuki clan, we can paint a clear picture of the true scope—and the surprising limits—of his shinjutsu knowledge.
Understanding Shinjutsu: The Techniques of the Gods
Before we can properly assess Momoshiki’s knowledge, it’s essential to first define what shinjutsu truly is. As explained by the rogue scientist Amado, shinjutsu are not simply powerful ninjutsu. They are on an entirely different plane of existence. Where ninjutsu involves molding pre-existing chakra to create an effect, shinjutsu are described as “pure, unadulterated phenomena” created seemingly from nothing. They are the abilities of the gods, capable of rewriting reality itself.
Amado reveals that all ninjutsu are, in essence, pale, human-made imitations of these divine techniques. The Otsutsuki use shinjutsu as their primary tools, and it’s through the Chakra Fruit, cultivated by a Ten-Tails, that these powers eventually trickled down to humanity in a diluted form. The key distinction is creation versus manipulation.
A Roster of Confirmed Shinjutsu
To grasp the breadth of what “all shinjutsu” would entail, let’s list the known divine techniques seen in the series:
- Karma: The quintessential Otsutsuki shinjutsu for resurrection. It’s a compressed backup of an Otsutsuki’s data implanted onto a vessel, which slowly overwrites their existence and allows the Otsutsuki to be reborn.
- Sukunahikona: Isshiki Otsutsuki’s unique ability to shrink himself and any non-living matter to a microscopic size instantly.
- Daikokuten: Isshiki’s other signature technique, allowing him to store objects shrunken with Sukunahikona in a dimension where time does not flow, from which he can summon them at will.
- Claw Marks (and Claw Grime): A shinjutsu derived from the Ten-Tails, used by Jigen, Code, Boruto, and Kawaki. It allows the user to leave black marks on any surface and travel between them instantaneously. The “Claw Grime” are sentient extensions of the Ten-Tails that emerge from these marks.
- Senrigan (Clairvoyance): Eida’s shinjutsu, derived from the DNA of Shibai Otsutsuki. It allows her to perceive anything currently happening in the world and even view past events dating back to her birth.
- Omnipotence: Eida’s most powerful and reality-altering shinjutsu, also originating from Shibai. It allows the user to subconsciously project their deepest desires onto the world, altering the memories and perceptions of nearly everyone to make that desire a reality.
- Reflection: Daemon’s shinjutsu, also from Shibai. It allows him to instantly and unconsciously reflect any attack or killing intent aimed at him back at the attacker.
“They aren’t ninjutsu… They’re phenomena created by the Otsutsuki. Shinjutsu… Divine Techniques.” – Amado
Knowing “all” shinjutsu would mean Momoshiki understands the mechanics of every single one of these abilities, and potentially countless others that Shibai Otsutsuki demonstrated before his ascension.
Momoshiki’s Known Abilities: A Library of Experience
To determine what Momoshiki knows, we must first analyze what he can do. His personal arsenal, while formidable, is quite specific. Unlike Kaguya, who wielded a wide array of elemental powers and bone-based attacks, Momoshiki’s combat style revolves around a singular, powerful concept: absorption and amplification.
- Rinnegan (Takami Musubinokami): Momoshiki possesses a Rinnegan in the palm of each hand. The one on his right hand can absorb any ninjutsu, converting it into a chakra pill. The one on his left, Takami Musubinokami, allows him to consume that pill and release the absorbed technique with vastly multiplied power. This isn’t quite creating phenomena from nothing; rather, it’s stealing and repurposing existing phenomena. It’s a powerful counter to ninjutsu, but it may represent a lower-order application of shinjutsu principles compared to Isshiki’s or Shibai’s abilities.
- Byakugan: Like all Otsutsuki, he possesses the Byakugan, granting him near 360-degree vision and the ability to see the chakra pathway system.
- Prophecy: Momoshiki has the ability to see the “fate” of others. He foresaw his own demise at Boruto’s hand and Boruto’s tragic future, where he would lose everything. This predictive power could very well be a unique form of shinjutsu, tied to his Byakugan and Otsutsuki heritage.
- Karma: This is Momoshiki’s most definitive shinjutsu. He successfully implanted his Karma onto Boruto at the moment of his death, initiating the process of his own resurrection. He has a perfect, innate understanding of this particular divine technique.
Notably, Momoshiki has never demonstrated the ability to shrink objects like Isshiki, rewrite reality like Eida, or teleport via Claw Marks. His skill set is powerful but focused, centered on the manipulation of chakra-based techniques rather than the pure creation of reality-bending effects.
The “Data” Argument: Does Experience Equal Knowledge?
Herein lies the core of the debate. The Otsutsuki clan’s entire purpose revolves around consuming planets and the lifeforms on them via the Chakra Fruit. In doing so, they don’t just gain power; they absorb the entire genetic history, all knowledge, and every experience of that world’s life—they absorb its “data.” Momoshiki himself stated that he has consumed countless planets and even consumed his own guardian, Kinshiki, to gain more power.
This means that Momoshiki possesses an unfathomable amount of inherited data. It is highly likely that through this process, he has gained knowledge *of* many shinjutsu used by other Otsutsuki that he or his ancestors have encountered or consumed. He might know the theoretical principles behind Sukunahikona because he has the data of beings who witnessed or understood it. He might understand the mechanics of various Otsutsuki weapons and tools because he’s absorbed the data of their creators or wielders.
However, this is where the crucial distinction must be made: knowing *of* something is not the same as knowing *how to use it*. Momoshiki’s mind is a living library, but he hasn’t practiced every skill described in its books. His knowledge is archival, not practical. He may be able to recognize a shinjutsu when he sees it and even deduce its function, but that doesn’t mean he can replicate it himself. This would explain his role as a commentator inside Boruto—he can often identify and explain what’s happening because it fits within the vast framework of Otsutsuki principles stored in his data.
The Limits of Momoshiki’s Knowledge: Shibai and the God Tier
The most compelling evidence against Momoshiki knowing all shinjutsu comes from the introduction of Shibai Otsutsuki and the abilities derived from him. Shibai is presented as the pinnacle of the clan—a being who consumed so many Chakra Fruits and evolved so much that he transcended his physical body and ascended to a higher dimension, becoming a true god. He left behind a physical shell, from which Amado harvested DNA to create the cyborgs Eida and Daemon.
The abilities of Eida and Daemon—Senrigan, Omnipotence, and Reflection—are shinjutsu of the highest order. And Momoshiki’s reaction to them is incredibly telling. When Eida’s Omnipotence was triggered by Kawaki’s desire, rewriting the entire world’s perception of Boruto and Kawaki, Momoshiki was just as shocked and enraged as Boruto. He didn’t see it coming, nor did he have an immediate explanation.
“What is this…?! What has happened?! That little wench… what in the world did she do?!” – Momoshiki’s internal reaction to Omnipotence
If Momoshiki knew all shinjutsu, he would have recognized the signs of Omnipotence and warned Boruto. His complete surprise is definitive proof that this god-tier ability was outside the scope of his knowledge. He, a high-ranking Otsutsuki, was ignorant of a power wielded by the very “God” of his clan. This suggests a clear hierarchy of knowledge within the Otsutsuki. Momoshiki, as a “Chakra Fruit harvester,” is of a lower station than a transcendent being like Shibai and therefore wouldn’t have access to his divine portfolio of techniques.
To better visualize this hierarchy of knowledge, let’s compare the known shinjutsu:
Shinjutsu Knowledge Comparison
| Shinjutsu Technique | Known User(s) | Is Momoshiki Aware of It? | Can Momoshiki Use It? | Evidence/Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karma | All “vessel” Otsutsuki (Momoshiki, Isshiki) | Yes | Yes (His primary ability) | He implanted it on Boruto. It’s the core Otsutsuki resurrection method, a fundamental shinjutsu for his kind. |
| Sukunahikona | Isshiki Otsutsuki | Likely Aware | No | As a high-ranking Otsutsuki, he would almost certainly know of a fellow member’s unique ability through shared clan data. However, it’s inherently Isshiki’s power. |
| Daikokuten | Isshiki Otsutsuki | Likely Aware | No | Same as above. It is tied to Isshiki’s unique ocular power and is not a universal Otsutsuki technique. |
| Claw Marks | Jigen, Code, Boruto, Kawaki (from Ten-Tails) | Yes (Post-Isshiki) | No (Not demonstrated) | He understands their function now, having witnessed Boruto and Kawaki use them. His knowledge seems acquired, not innate. |
| Omnipotence | Eida (from Shibai) | No (Initially) | No | His genuine shock and rage when it was activated is the strongest proof of his ignorance. He is now learning its rules alongside Boruto. |
| Senrigan | Eida (from Shibai) | No (Initially) | No | He seemed surprised by the extent of her vision, only understanding it after observing it. |
| Reflection | Daemon (from Shibai) | Unknown, but Likely No | No | He hasn’t commented on it directly, but as it’s a Shibai-derived power, it is logical to assume he had no prior knowledge of it. |
Momoshiki’s Role as Commentator: The Observer, Not the Master
Since the time skip in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Momoshiki’s role has shifted dramatically. He is no longer just a looming threat of resurrection; he has become an internal commentator, a reluctant mentor, and a source of exposition for Boruto. This new role provides further insight into his knowledge.
Notice that Momoshiki often explains phenomena *after* they happen, or as Boruto figures them out.
- He explained the mechanics of Omnipotence and why Boruto and Kawaki were immune *after* it had already taken effect. He was analyzing the situation using his vast base knowledge, not recalling a pre-existing file on the technique.
- When Boruto developed his new Rasengan: Uzuhiko, Momoshiki was the one to explain its true nature. He recognized that Boruto was subconsciously tapping into the power of the planet’s rotation—a force of nature, which is the essence of shinjutsu. He didn’t teach Boruto how to do this; he simply identified and labeled what Boruto’s own ingenuity had created.
This pattern suggests that Momoshiki is an expert analyst, not an omniscient master. His immense database of Otsutsuki principles allows him to rapidly comprehend and categorize new, complex techniques. He can connect the dots faster than anyone, but he still needs the dots to appear first. He is observing, deducing, and explaining—not dictating from a complete script of all cosmic powers.
Conclusion: A Vast but Incomplete Encyclopedia
In conclusion, the evidence overwhelmingly indicates that Momoshiki Otsutsuki does not know all shinjutsu. His knowledge is vast, sourced from a lineage of data consumption that spans millennia, but it is demonstrably incomplete. He possesses a deep, perhaps unparalleled, understanding of the foundational principles of shinjutsu, but he is not a master of every single application.
His limitations are most apparent when faced with the god-tier abilities derived from Shibai Otsutsuki, the clan’s ascended god. His shock at Omnipotence proves that there are levels of power and knowledge even he cannot fathom. Furthermore, his own arsenal of abilities is potent but specialized, and he has never shown the capacity to use the signature techniques of other Otsutsuki like Isshiki.
Momoshiki’s current role within Boruto is that of a living encyclopedia—a vast but finite resource. He can analyze and contextualize new threats and abilities with incredible speed and accuracy, but he is ultimately a passenger learning alongside his vessel. While his knowledge of Karma and the core tenets of his clan is absolute, the wider, more esoteric world of shinjutsu—especially the powers of a true god—remains, even for him, a realm of discovery and surprise.